About Us

DERINDA  M. SANGSTER

License # 214200172

161 Prospect Drive

San Rafael, CA  94901

E-mail: derindasangster@gmail.com

Website: www.koaladaycaresanrafael.com

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~ABOUT US ~
Conveniently located in San Rafael, CA.  Koala Day Care is a Family Home Day Care, licensed by the State of California, established and operating since 1993.  
We are open year round designed to care for children 5 months * 4 years 
Owner, Director and Main Provider ~ Derinda M. Sangster,  (Dee)

~PHILOSOPHY ~
Our aspiration is to provide your child with a happy, stimulating, learning environment with age appropriate enrichment activities. Every day is busy with music, dance, fun arts, crafts and lots of independent play.  The large spacious back yard allows for fun bike riding, climbing, sliding and endless outdoor imaginative play in a warm, homelike atmosphere that is entertaining, safe, spacious and clean.  

Spanish is spoken to your child at your request.

Unique individual care and attention is provided to each child, fostering fine and gross motor development, socialization and love.

Children learn and develop their self-esteem through play and exploring the environment that surrounds them.  Caring for and playing with children, helping them attain their needs and nurturing them is very important to us.      

I know the children and I will enjoy our time together and we, including their parents, will develop trust, respect and mutual friendships.

~OPENINGS ~

 Please contact via email the Owner & Director, Derinda (Dee) Sangster. Briefly explain your childcare needs... full-time or part-time, how many days per week, D.O.B. and start date.  

~HOURS OF OPERATION AND RATES~~YEAR ROUND~
 FULL DAYS,  MONDAY  through Friday………............7:30am – 5:30pm  = $125.00   
HALF DAYS, MONDAY through FRIDAY........4 hours between 8:00am & 5:00pm = $80.00
HOURLY DROP-IN MONDAY through  FRIDAY .................................. $30.00 Per Hour
Note: Drop-ins & 1/2Days are subject to space available and only to current registered families.

Note: If you are running late and you are scheduled to pick up at 5:30pm  or 5:pm on Fridays, please call me.  An additional $10 Late Fee every 5 minutes will be charged to your account.
**When your child is in Koala Day Care please leave your cell phone turned ON.   
2 DAYS minimum attendance required. 
TWO MONTHS notice is required for reducing your child’s days.
Space provided, no advance notice is required to add days to your child’s schedule.
Minimum attendance is 12 months, TWO MONTHS written notice is required when your child is to be permanently withdrawn from Koala Day Care

~ROUTINE PICKUP~
Koala Daycare closes promptly M T W Th at 5:30pm.and Fridays at 5:00pm.
Plan to arrive at least a few minutes prior to your scheduled pickup to allow for a smooth, relaxed pickup.  Please do not block the neighbor’s driveways.  Pull into my driveway towards the cones at the front stairs, but not beyond them.  This will allow space for other parents, keeping them off the narrow street. Do not turn around in my driveway; this is a dangerous maneuver, back out slowly and carefully watching for children.

~LATE PICKUP~   
*Please call us as soon as you become aware of a possible late arrival to pick up your child, or if you choose to pick up your child earlier than scheduled on any given day.     
Pick up after 5:30pm Monday through Friday will result in an additional fee of $10.00 every 5 minutes that will be charged to your account.  

~PAYMENT~  
A deposit of 4 weeks child-care is due upon enrollment.  This will secure your child's place in the program; The deposit is non-refundable and will be applied to your LAST 4 WEEKS of 12 MONTHS  attendance.  
Payment is due in advance on the 1st. of each month, and should be received no later than the 5th of the month.  NOTE: A penalty of $20 a day will be added after the 5th for late payments.  
 NOTE:  Payment is due when your child/children are out ill, there are no monetary credits given. 

Payment is due for observed holidays listed below under, “Holiday Procedure.”
Payment is due in full for all other reasons, such as, "Acts of God" : Floods, Fires, Power Outages lasting 2days or longer, (we have solar panels and batteries), highly communicable diseases/viruses, State & National/Global Pandemics.

~ RETURNED CHECKS ~
A $20 Fee for all returned checks and all bank charges as a result of returned checks will be billed to your account and should be paid in cash. 

~VACATION~   
Please notify me in advance about your vacation plans.  Your child's space will be reserved and payment at the normal weekly rate is due in advance.

I will advise parents two-three months in advance of my vacation plans.  I will take two – three weeks off during the summer.  

~HOLIDAY PROCEDURE~   
***Koala Day Care is open year round for your convenience***
Koala Day Care will be CLOSED on the following holidays, payment is due if they fall on a weekday and a day your child/children would normally attend.
-ANNUAL CLOSED HOLIDAYS-
Jan.             New Years Day                
Jan.             Martin Luther King Day

 Feb.            President’s Day                

 April           Spring Break        

May             Memorial Day 

June             Juneteenth 
        Summer vacation to be announced.  (Three weeks at the normal weekly rate charged.)  
July              Independence Day               
Sept.            Labor Day
Oct.             Columbus Day

  Nov.            Veteran’s Day
       Thanksgiving Day Wednesday prior & Friday after Thanksgiving 
  Dec.            Christmas Eve. 
  Dec.            Christmas Day
The week after Christmas 
A revised list and dates of these holidays will be given each New Year in January.

~ILLNESS POLICY~
Please notify me  at 7:30am  or after if your child is not coming for the day, due to illness or other reasons.
Your child should not attend if he/she has/had any of the following: 

Fever of 100 degrees or higher during the last 24 hours; mucous discharge that is thick, 
yellow or green; strep throat; conjunctivitis (pinkeye); diarrhea; vomiting; rash; antibiotic treatment less than 24hrs, or any other contagious illness.
Please use good judgment regarding these said conditions...Let's keep our Koala Kids Healthy!

*Koala Day Care does not take responsibility for the cause of your child’s illness.

A Medical release form must be signed for all prescribed or over the counter medication to be administered by Koala Day Care providers to your child.

In the case of my illness, I will have to close or a suitable substitute will be provided.  You will be notified in advance of the time your child is scheduled to attend.

~TOILET TRAINING~
I like the children to wear disposable pull-ups with velcro sides, (big girl/boy pants) during this period.  When they develop control and can verbalize their need to use the toilet, regular underwear can be worn underneath the pull-up.  Soon the desired comfort level is reached and the pull-up can be removed during the day and only used during nap-time.  
Consistency, patience, time and rewards are the key ingredients.  Everyone trains at different ages, some more quickly than others, eventually it does happen and everyone is proud and feeling very grown up!

~LEAVING THE PROGRAM~  
12 months minimum attendance,  TWO month’s written notice is required when your child is to be permanently withdrawn from Koala Day Care.  Less than Two month’s notice will leave you financially responsible for the remainder of the time period, on a pro-rated basis.  
You are responsible for payment of TWO months from the date I receive your written notice.  
I will give two-months notice if your child is to be withdrawn from Koala Day Care.
  *Certain medical conditions may require immediate withdrawal for the protection of the other children.

~GRADUATION~
When your child completes the Koala Daycare Program by attending until age  years or older, he/she will be “honored” with a Graduation Ceremony along with other 4 year old children also leaving.

~MEALS~
Nutritious breakfast snacks, afternoon snacks, along with fruits and drinks at lunch will be provided.
*NOTE:  Parents are responsible for providing their children with a favorite sandwich or favorite finger foods for lunch.  Additionally for infants until one year of age, all bottles, formula, liquids and baby food.

~BIRTHDAYS~
Feel free to discuss if you would like to provide a special snack for the group to celebrate your child’s birthday, no party favors or cupcakes please. 

~NAPS~
If your child naps she/he will do so around 12 - 12:30pm 
Toddlers usually enjoy napping together in the playroom on mats. 
Infants of course create their own schedule for napping and do so in a portable crib in one of the bedrooms, or playroom whichever they are more comfortable with.

~DISCIPLINE~   
Respect for one self, other children and property, as well as learning to share are very important for  your child and the other children.  
Appropriate Discipline helps keep control and harmony in the group.
I find toddlers respond well to redirection and brief time out periods, (on the couch or ground, in sight, for one minute or so).  "Positive attention" is a very effective approach acknowledging good behavior, in addition to words of affirmation, Stickers or stamps encourage and reward a job well done or good listening skills.
Children at a very young age are able to learn cooperation, and problem solving skills during their daily routine and play. 
Consistent rules and limits through encouragement can assist the children to learn who they are and what is expected of them.        

~ITEMS PARENTS SHOULD PROVIDE~
A lunch bag with a cold pack to keep your child’s lunch cool.
*Favorite Sandwich and a variety of finger foods for lunch
 Bottles & all food and drinks for infants until one year old.
 Any special food or drink item you require for your child. 

NO glass containers or bottles.

Water bottle for your child.
     Disposable Diapers & Wet Wipes.
   2+ Complete changes of clothes including socks and underpants -
  (Please check daily).                  
  Infants 2-3 complete changes of clothes.
    2 Pacifiers (if used)
Toddlers 1 Favorite small blanket & cuddly for nap . Sleep sack & Pacie if needed for infants.
  Helmet is mandatory for outside bike riding, please provide.

**Please LABEL EVERYTHING you bring, including sweaters and jackets, lunch containers
Koala Day Care is not responsible for items lost or damaged.**

~KOALA DAY CARE WILL PROVIDE~
Whole Milk if requested at lunchtime
AM & PM – Healthy Snacks, Fruit, Cereal, Bagels, French Toast, Pancakes, Cheese Quesadillas,
  Crib/Mat   

Necessities

  Advise on parenting your baby/toddler
Love & Care

~WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OUR POLICY~

Please remember to sign page 6 the policy agreement, and return with your other paper work.  Payment  of your deposit and all paper work are required to secure your child’s space in Koala Day Care’s program. 

Payment must be received on the first day of your childs attendance for that month.
****WE  LOOK FORWARD  TO YOUR FIRST  DAY AT  KOALA DAY CARE!****